[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 120 (Friday, June 21, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37527-37528]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-14726]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army


Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Disposition of 
Hangars 2 and 3, Fort Wainwright, Alaska

AGENCY: Department of the Army, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The Department of the Army announces the availability of the 
Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the disposition of two 
historic hangars at Fort Wainwright (FWA). The Draft EIS analyzes and 
evaluates the potential environmental impacts associated with proposed 
disposition options for two historic World War II-era hangars (Hangars 
2 and 3) and supporting infrastructure located on the Main Post of FWA. 
Environmental consequences were evaluated for seven resource areas: Air 
quality, cultural resources, hazardous materials/hazardous waste, 
safety, environmental justice and protection of children, 
sustainability, and transportation. No significant impacts would be 
anticipated under all resource categories except cultural, which would 
experience significant impacts.
    The Army considered several reuse alternatives for the hangars. All 
but one of these reuse alternatives were not compatible with the 
current or future military mission at FWA. This one reuse exception as 
an unmanned aerial system maintenance hangar was determined to be 
prohibitively expensive. As a result, only one action alternative was 
considered as reasonable and is analyzed in detail in the Draft EIS: 
Demolition of Hangars 2 and 3 (Alternative 1). The No Action 
Alternative is also considered and carried through for detailed 
analysis in the Draft EIS. Under the No Action Alternative, demolition 
of Hangars 2 and 3 would not occur, the hangars would remain vacant, 
and they would be maintained at minimal levels. The No Action 
Alternative provides the environmental baseline conditions for 
comparing the impacts associated with the other alternative.

DATES: The public comment period will end 45 days after publication of 
the NOA in the Federal Register by the U.S. Environmental Protection 
Agency. The Army will conduct a public meeting for the Draft EIS in 
Fairbanks, Alaska, with the date and location being announced in the 
local news media.

ADDRESSES: Please send written comments on the Draft EIS to Mr. Matthew 
Sprau, Directorate of Public Works, Attention: IMFW-PWE (Sprau), 1060 
Gaffney Road 4500, Fort Wainwright, Alaska 99703-4500. Email 
comments should be sent to: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Linda Douglass, Public Affairs 
Office (PAO), IMPC-FWA-PAO (Douglass), 1060 Gaffney Road 5900, 
Fort Wainwright, Alaska 99703-5900; telephone (907) 353-6701, email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Hangars 2 and 3 are contributing resources 
to the Ladd Field National Historic Landmark (Ladd Field NHL) as well 
as the Ladd Air Force Base Cold War Historic District (Cold War 
Historic District) at Fort Wainwright. The Ladd Field NHL was listed on 
the National Register of Historic Places in 1984, and the Cold War 
Historic District was determined to be eligible for the National 
Register of Historic Places in 2010. Constructed between 1943 and 1944 
as semi-permanent structures, these hangars have received varying 
degrees of operational maintenance over the years, but no large-scale 
rehabilitation has occurred. To accommodate changing missions, the Army 
completed numerous interior modifications, including creating doorways 
and windows and altering the interior lateral cross-bracing. The lack 
of rehabilitation, interior modifications, the age of the structures, a 
fire in Hangar 2, and the harsh Alaskan environment have all 
contributed to the compromised structural integrity of both buildings. 
The U.S. Army Garrison Fort Wainwright, Alaska (USAG FWA) has condemned 
the buildings, and they are no longer used because they present a 
safety hazard.
    This Draft EIS has been prepared in accordance with the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321 et 
seq.); NEPA-implementing regulations issued by the President's Council 
on Environmental Quality (CEQ) (40 Code of Federal Regulations [CFR] 
1500-1508); and the Army's NEPA-implementing regulation (32 CFR 651, 
Environmental Analysis of Army Actions). The purpose of this Draft EIS 
is to inform the decision maker, agencies, interested parties, Alaska 
Native tribes, and the public of possible environmental consequences 
associated with the reasonable disposition alternatives for Hangars 2 
and 3.
    The USAG FWA has entered into consultation concerning the proposed 
disposition of Hangars 2 and 3 as required by Section 106 of the 
National Historic Preservation Act and its implementing regulations (36 
CFR 800). The USAG FWA concludes that the disposition would result in 
historic properties being adversely affected. The disposition of the 
hangars would adversely affect the hangars as contributing resources 
and, in so doing, would adversely affect the Ladd Field NHL and Cold 
War Historic District. The Army is pursuing a Memorandum of Agreement 
(MOA) with the Alaska State Historic Preservation Office and the 
Advisory Council on Historic Preservation pursuant to 36 CFR 
800.6(2)(c) to mitigate adverse effects.
    The Army invites federal, state, and local agencies; organizations; 
the public; and Alaska Native tribes to submit written comments and to 
participate in a public meeting where oral and written comments and 
suggestions will be received concerning the alternatives and analyses 
addressed in the Draft EIS and to fulfill public involvement under 
Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. The public 
meeting will be in Fairbanks, Alaska, with the date and location being 
announced in the local news media.
    Copies of the Draft EIS will be available for review at the Noel 
Wien

[[Page 37528]]

Public Library prior to the public meeting. The Draft EIS may also be 
reviewed electronically at: www.wainwright.army.mil/env/NEPA/Current.html.

Brenda S. Bowen,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2013-14726 Filed 6-20-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-08-P